Bebe Neuwirth

Actress Bebe Neuwirth won Tonys for her roles in Sweet Charity and Chicago, and Emmys for her role on the sitcom Cheers.

Synopsis

Born in New Jersey in 1958, Bebe Neuwirth studied dance at the Juilliard School in New York City before making her professional debut in a touring company of A Chorus Line in 1980. She won a 1986 Tony Award for her role in Sweet Charity. That same year, she made her TV debut on the hit sitcom Cheers as Lilith Sternin-Crane, wife of Dr. Frasier Crane. Neuwirth later returned to Broadway, earning another Tony for Chicago in 1997.

Profile

Actress Bebe Neuwirth was born Beatrice Neuwirth on December 31, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in Princeton by a mathematician father and artist mother. Neuwirth began dance lessons at the age of 5. After finishing high school, she studied dance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City.

television debut

In 1980, Bebe Neuwirth made her professional debut in a touring production of A Chorus Line. She followed this with several more Broadway musicals, including Bob Fosse's Dancin' and Sweet Charity. Her starring role in the latter earned her a Tony Award in 1986.

That same year, Neuwirth made her television debut on the hit sitcom Cheers. Playing Lilith Sternin-Crane, the buttoned-up girlfriend of Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) on the series, Neuwirth proved her comedic talent. She also won wide acclaim, including two Emmy Awards for her supporting role, in 1990 and 1991. At her request, Neuwirth was written out of the show in 1992 to pursue film and stage work. However, she continued to make occasional visits to the show and to Grammer's spin-off, Frasier.

Later Career

On the big screen, Bebe Neuwirth started with a steady stream of supporting roles, including Say Anything, Bugsy and Green Card. However, she continued to find roles that better suited her edgy charm on stage. In 1997, her performance in Chicago earned her a second Tony award.

In 2002, Neuwirth finally signed on for a film that spotlighted her talents as Diane, a sexy woman who seduces her best friend's teenage son in the independent comedy Tadpole. Upcoming film projects include supporting roles in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and The Big Bounce.

Neuwirth was married to theater director Paul Dorman from 1984 to 1991. She currently lives with actor Michael Danek.

Related Videos

Kirstie Alley – A Love of Animals(TV-14; 1:07)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *